# List of NFL career kickoff return yards leaders

This is a list of National Football League kickoff returners based on their career kickoff return yards.
Brian Mitchell is the all-time leader with 14,014 kickoff return yards over 14 seasons.

## Career leaders

Key :
| ^ | Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame |
| * | Denotes player who is still active |
Through 2024 season
| Rank | Player | Pos. | Team(s) by season | Returns | Yards | Average |
| 1 | Brian Mitchell | RB | Washington Redskins (1990–1999) Philadelphia Eagles (2000–2002) New York Giants (2003) | 607 | 14,014 | 23.1 |
| 2 | Allen Rossum | DB | Philadelphia Eagles (1998–1999) Green Bay Packers (2000–2001) Atlanta Falcons (2002–2006) Pittsburgh Steelers (2007) San Francisco 49ers (2008–2009) Dallas Cowboys (2009) | 514 | 11,947 | 23.2 |
| 3 | Josh Cribbs | WR | Cleveland Browns (2005–2012) New York Jets (2013) Indianapolis Colts (2014) | 426 | 11,113 | 26.1 |
| 4 | Mel Gray | RB/WR | New Orleans Saints (1986–1988) Detroit Lions (1989–1994) Houston / Tennessee Oilers (1995–1997) Philadelphia Eagles (1997) | 421 | 10,250 | 24.3 |
| 5 | Dante Hall | WR | Kansas City Chiefs (2000–2006) St. Louis Rams (2007–2008) | 426 | 10,136 | 23.8 |
| 6 | Glyn Milburn | RB/WR | Denver Broncos (1993–1995) Detroit Lions (1996–1997) Chicago Bears (1998–2001) San Diego Chargers (2001) | 407 | 9,788 | 24 |
| 7 | Michael Bates | RB/WR | Seattle Seahawks (1993–1995) Carolina Panthers (1995, 1996–2000) Cleveland Browns (1995) Washington Redskins (2001) Carolina Panthers (2002–2003) New York Jets (2003) Dallas Cowboys (2003) | 373 | 9,110 | 24.4 |
| 8 | Darren Sproles | RB | San Diego Chargers (2005–2010) New Orleans Saints (2011–2013) Philadelphia Eagles (2014–2019) | 332 | 8,352 | 25.2 |
| 9 | Cordarrelle Patterson* | RB/WR | Minnesota Vikings (2013–2016) Oakland Raiders (2017) New England Patriots (2018) Chicago Bears (2019–2020) Atlanta Falcons (2021–2023) Pittsburgh Steelers (2024–present) | 282 | 8,188 | 29.0 |
| 10 | Desmond Howard | WR | Washington Redskins (1992–1994) Jacksonville Jaguars (1995) Green Bay Packers (1996, 1999) Oakland Raiders (1997–1998) Detroit Lions (1999–2002) | 359 | 7,959 | 22.2 |
| 11 | Leon Washington | RB | New York Jets (2006–2009) Seattle Seahawks (2010–2012) New England Patriots (2013) Tennessee Titans (2013–2014) | 292 | 7,553 | 25.9 |
| 12 | Devin Hester^ | WR | Chicago Bears (2006–2013) Atlanta Falcons (2014–2015) Baltimore Ravens (2016) Seattle Seahawks (2016) | 295 | 7,333 | 24.9 |
| 13 | Kevin Williams | WR | Dallas Cowboys (1993–1996) Arizona Cardinals (1997) Buffalo Bills (1998–1999) San Francisco 49ers (2000) | 322 | 7,309 | 22.7 |
| 14 | Tyrone Hughes | DB | New Orleans Saints (1993–1996)) Chicago Bears (1997) Dallas Cowboys (1998) | 283 | 6,999 | 24.7 |
| 15 | Ron Smith | DB | Chicago Bears (1965, (1970–1972) Atlanta Falcons (1966–1967) Los Angeles Rams (1968–1969) San Diego Chargers (1973) Oakland Raiders (1974) | 275 | 6,922 | 25.2 |
| 16 | Ted Ginn Jr. | WR | Miami Dolphins (2007–2009) San Francisco 49ers (2010–2012) Carolina Panthers (2013, 2015–2016) Arizona Cardinals (2014) New Orleans Saints (2017–2019) Chicago Bears (2020) | 307 | 6,899 | 22.5 |
| 17 | Andre Roberts | WR | Arizona Cardinals (2010–2013) Washington Redskins (2014–2015) Detroit Lions (2016) Atlanta Falcons (2017) New York Jets (2018) Buffalo Bills (2019–2020) Houston Texans (2021) Los Angeles Chargers (2021) Carolina Panthers (2022) | 260 | 6,751 | 26 |
| 18 | Chris Carr | DB | Oakland Raiders (2005–2007) Tennessee Titans (2008) Baltimore Ravens (2009–2011) San Diego Chargers (2012) New Orleans Saints (2013) | 256 | 6,276 | 24.5 |
| 19 | Michael Lewis | WR | New Orleans Saints (2001–2006) San Francisco 49ers (2007) | 248 | 5,989 | 24.1 |
| 20 | Brandon Tate | WR | New England Patriots (2009–2010) Cincinnati Bengals (2011–2015) Buffalo Bills (2016–2017) New Orleans Saints (2018) | 247 | 5,890 | 23.8 |
| 21 | Eric Metcalf | RB/WR | Cleveland Browns (1989–1994) Atlanta Falcons (1995–1996) San Diego Chargers (1997) Arizona Cardinals (1998) Carolina Panthers (1999) Washington Redskins (2001) Green Bay Packers (2002) | 280 | 5,813 | 20.8 |
| 22 | Eddie Drummond | WR | Detroit Lions (2002–2006) Kansas City Chiefs (2007) | 250 | 5,811 | 23.2 |
| 23 | Dave Meggett | RB | New York Giants (1989–1994) New England Patriots (1995–1997) New York Jets (1998) | 252 | 5,566 | 22.1 |
| 24 | Abe Woodson | DB | San Francisco 49ers (1958–1964) St. Louis Cardinals (1965–1966) | 193 | 5,538 | 28.7 |
| 25 | Corey Harris | DB | Houston Oilers (1992) Green Bay Packers (1992–1994) Seattle Seahawks (1995–1996) Miami Dolphins (1997) Baltimore Ravens (1998–2001) Detroit Lions (2002–2003) | 238 | 5,528 | 23.2 |